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In the past several years across the West, there has been state level legislation and initiatives centered around animal welfare. At last week’s Colorado Livestock Association’s annual meeting, one of the speakers — Dairy Farmers of America Vice President of Industry and Legislative Affairs Jackie Klippenstein reminded producers that animal right groups may shift more focus to changing laws at the state level and those of us in animal agriculture needs to remain aware.

Klippenstein: “While we believe that the Trump Administration will be helpful when it comes to regulatory reform, and maybe simplify some rules for agriculture — we do have concerns on trade and we have concerns on a few other issues. It is fair to say that those groups that have been working for the past few years to put production standards on farms. Those that would maybe like to see a plant-based diet. They know that their inroads into this administration — into the EPA and the USDA — will be more limited. They will get clever. They will increase their presence in the states. They will try to push their legislation that may seem innocuous but will have major impact on production agriculture across the board — production standards or other different type of rules. I think we should all be vigilant being careful and being active in state legislatures defending our right to farm.”